A birthstone refers to a gemstone that is designated to a particular month. There are traditional birthstones and modern birthstones, and there are also birthstones designated by signs of the zodiac. Here is a guide to traditional birthstones so that you know what to buy for whom.

Traditional birthstone lists have been amalgamated from a number of different cultures, all of whom had their own idea of which gemstones should be associated with which month. The Polish tradition seemed to be the biggest winner, and in 1870 Tiffany & Co. published a pamphlet with a little poem for each month, detailing the gemstone designated to that month.

For January, the traditional birthstone is garnet. While garnet can come in all sorts of colors, the traditional color for the January birthstone is red. The garnet is said to stand for fidelity, strength, prosperity, and health.

February’s traditional stone is the amethyst, which is said to stand for sobriety, sincerity, wisom, and spirituality. The amethyst is a variety of quartz which can be light pinkish purple to dark purple. The amethyst was used in ancient Egypt, and was worn by medieval soldiers as protection amulets.

The gem related to March in the traditional school of thought is the bloodstone. Called this because of the red spots on an otherwise dark green stone, the bloodstone is also called heliotrope. Found primarily in India, the stone is said to stand for wisdom and courage in times of peril.

The traditional stone for April is the diamond. The diamond, a universally coveted precious gemstone, is said to stand for innocence, purity, and eternal love. That is why the diamond is traditionally given in a proposal of marriage.

May’s birthstone is the emerald, which stands for patience and understanding, as well as a happy marriage. Emeralds can occur in colors anywhere from light yellow green to brilliant green, though the brilliant green stones are considered to be the most valuable.

The traditional gemstone for June is the agate – technically a mineral – that represents longevity, health, and wealth. Agate was named by a Greek philosopher named Theophrastus who discovered it in 4th century BC.

July’s stone is the ruby, a red gem that gets its color from chromium. Rubies are especially valuable in Asian countries, where they were used to adorn armor of Chinese and Indian aristocracy. Rubies were also used in the foundations of buildings to bring prosperity to those buildings. In the realm of birthstones, rubies are meant to represent love and success.

The gemstone that is August’s traditional birthstone is the onyx, said to represent security and peace of mind. Onyx, a banded variety of silica (think quartz), was used in the Second Dynasty to make bowls and vases.

September’s birth gem is the sapphire, a gemstone similar to the ruby, but blue in color. The sapphire is thought to represent loyalty, truth, and sincerity, and to guard against mental diseases. Sapphires are remarkably hard, and are used in certain scientific instruments.

The traditional birthstone for October is the opal. The opal is a quartz stone that diffracts light, making it appear many different colors. In fact, opals can express every single color in the visible spectrum of colors, making it a very striking and special stone indeed. The opal is said to represent faith, hope, and confidence, and for a child born for woe, as the Tiffany’s brochure stated an October born person was, that is a good thing.

November’s stone is the topaz. Topaz, in its purest form, is clear, but most topaz contains an impurity that gives it it’s famous yellow or amber hue. Orange topaz is the typical stone used for November birthday gifts, and it is said to represent strength and wisdom.

Finally, December’s traditional birthstone is an opaque mineral that is blue-green and has been used in jewelry and ornamentation in many cultures. For the birthstone, the turquoise is said to represent happiness and new beginnings. Appropriate for someone born at the end of the calendar year.

These traditional birthstones are available in their natural form, and many are available in synthetic form. For those people who do not favor their own birthstone, there is a modern birthstone list that offers different options, while yet other people choose to use their zodiac birthstone instead.

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Category: Womens Interest
Keywords: gifts, anniversary, birthday, wedding, engagement